Every time you open a new packet of coffee, it releases a unique aroma that you want to preserve over time and find in every cup you savour. But the passage of days, heat and storage slowly fade that unique full-bodied smell from your coffee blend.
To make every cup of espresso coffee special, we reveal the secrets of how to preserve the taste of coffee and prolong the explosion of aromas that pervaded you when you opened it.
How can you keep the organoleptic characteristics of coffee unaltered over time? What is the right way to store coffee?
Two indications appear on coffee packages:
- the expiry date and
- the words “store in a cool, dry place”.
In reality, it is difficult to understand how to keep a coffee with an intense aroma for as long as possible once the packet has been opened.
The use-by date refers to the unopened packet. And since coffee is a dry product, it cannot spoil if packaged properly. So, no harm done! At most, it may lose some characteristics after the expiry date.
How do you store coffee after opening?
The biggest question is about the cool, dry place.
Some people believe that the best place to store coffee is in the refrigerator. Others try to preserve the taste by choosing the type of container in which to store it once it has been opened.
But there are many ways to keep the characteristics of coffee unchanged over time.
The first factor you should pay attention to is the amount of product you consume.
The format should be chosen according to the portions contained, to preserve the freshness of the coffee. In fact, coffee oxidises in contact with oxygen, and it is good practice to keep the packaging open for as little time as possible.
What spoils coffee?
Coffee is a porous foodstuff and becomes more delicate with roasting. If not stored properly, it changes quickly.
Consider that ground coffee, which is more delicate than beans, degrades in just two hours. The coffee’s aromas are dispersed into the air, and 50% of them vanish in two days. A cup of espresso loses its taste in just two minutes.
The surface of the beans, in contact with atmospheric agents, changes until the taste of the coffee is completely ruined. The single action of basic weathering can therefore be detrimental to the proper preservation of coffee.
The words ‘keep in a cool, dry place’ therefore indicate that, in order to preserve the coffee powder or beans for as long as possible, they should be stored away from their worst enemies:
- light sources;
- temperature changes, particularly heat;
- humidity;
- air.
Packaging has a very important function in keeping coffee away from light.
Have you ever noticed that commercial packaging is dark and there are no transparent coffee bags?
This is one of the factors you need to keep in mind when handling coffee on a daily basis.
Temperature changes can occur at any time of the year. However, they are more frequent in summer, when excessive heat is a real deterrent to storing coffee.
Air and humidity are agents that you have to deal with every day, because every time you open the container, they are lurking.
One annoying risk is contamination with other odours.
Have you ever drunk coffee that smells like a refrigerator?
Coffee is a very porous substance and easily absorbs odours, particularly in incorrectly closed jars or in unopened packaging.
Can it be stored in the fridge?
One of the most frequent doubts of coffee lovers is whether or not to store it in the refrigerator.
There are two different positions on this issue.
Considering that ground coffee and coffee beans are sensitive to moisture and temperature changes, you should avoid storing coffee in the refrigerator. In fact, opening and closing the refrigerator door several times a day would expose the coffee to cold and temperature variations and risk creating moisture inside the container.
On the other hand, there are supporters of refrigerated storage who believe that coffee should only be stored in the fridge if the container follows very precise rules:
- it must be hermetically sealed;
- it must not have a transparent surface, so as not to allow light to filter through;
- the container must be clean.
Storage in the refrigerator can be very useful in summer and when coffee is not consumed every day, as it keeps the coffee away from heat and preserves the aroma over time.
And what about the freezer?
The established fact is that coffee should not be stored in the freezer, where it loses its aroma and its natural fats are damaged.
False beliefs
Regarding this last point, concerning the mistake of storing coffee in the freezer (which, as we will explain later, is not always wrong), you must know that it represents one of the many false beliefs that revolve around the preservation of this beverage.
We, who know a lot about coffee, were very surprised when we discovered the many ‘urban legends’ that circulate on this subject.
Think that there are people who are convinced that they can preserve coffee by placing a cork or an apple peel inside its jar. Too bad that in this way they will obtain exactly the opposite effect, namely a coffee that has completely lost its aroma, taking on a taste that is anything but pleasant.
The truth, in fact, is that in order to know how to preserve coffee in the right way, it is necessary to make a clear distinction between the various forms taken by this beverage, adjusting their preservation accordingly.
How do I store coffee in the right way?
Coffee is a foodstuff rich in fats, which are deposited on the outside of the bean after roasting. Fats are very delicate and can oxidise or deteriorate in contact with atmospheric agents.
To preserve the organoleptic characteristics of your coffee and prevent the fats from going rancid, simply store your coffee with two precautions:
- use an airtight container for storage;
- store your coffee in a “cool, dry place”.
An airtight seal prevents air and moisture from entering the container, thus preventing the formation of condensation. The container (glass is also fine) should be dark to prevent light from filtering in and reaching the coffee. Choose a jar that is suitable for the amount of coffee you intend to store: this will reduce the volume of air inside the jar.
Always take care of the hygiene of the jar and wash it before filling it with a new pack of coffee.
The most suitable jars for storing coffee are those used for vacuum packing, which are equipped with manual or mechanical pumps.
The ideal place to store coffee is at a temperature of between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius maximum. The air humidity should not exceed 50%. It is usually best to store the coffee container in a closed cupboard, not exposed to sunlight.
Remember that coffee fears heat and heat sources, so avoid shelves near radiators, ovens, cookers, or motorised appliances such as fridges, freezers, and dishwashers.
Try to keep it in stable conditions, so that it does not undergo temperature changes and does not come into contact with agents harmful to its preservation.
How to store ground coffee
In addition to general instructions, it is important to treat coffee according to the type of processing it undergoes. Ground coffee, which is usually the most common in Italian households, is more porous and permeable. This is why it should be stored in the vacuum pack until it is opened.
Once the packet has been opened, it can be stored still in the packet or placed in an airtight tin. In order to have coffee as good as at the café even at home, it is important that the powder is kept away from air and moisture.
This is precisely why ground coffee is an exception, as it can be frozen without the risk of losing its aroma. This is, of course, if you plan not to consume it for long periods, or at least for a period of not less than a whole month.
How to store mocha coffee?
Have you ever made yourself a thermos of coffee, only to realise that you overdid it and couldn’t drink it all? Or maybe it was one of your guests who, for whatever reason, didn’t even touch the cup of espresso you prepared for them.
If the idea of throwing it away pains you, know that you don’t have to commit this ‘crime’, as you can easily store all your leftover coffee in the fridge.
Just pour it into a glass container and close the lid tightly. Alternatively, you can also freeze it. The only difference is that you have to get a container that is suitable for the freezer.
How long does coffee last?
Now that you have a complete understanding of how to store coffee, it is time to tackle the age-old question of its durability. Like any other food or beverage, coffee is not eternal, although it can maintain its quality for several months.
Usually, in fact, roasted coffee has a statement that it should ‘preferably’ be consumed within 24 months. This is, of course, provided that the package remains sealed.
In case you have already opened it, however, the advice is to consume it as soon as possible to avoid damaging the aroma and nutrients. Alternatively, you can rely on the preservation methods we have suggested, and which obviously work much better in the case of high-quality blends and professionally prepared coffee.
Conclusion: the secret of a coffee that keeps easily
Knowing how to preserve coffee is objectively of little use to you if the beverage in question is already not good. This is why, before experimenting with various preservation methods, you should first concentrate on how to make coffee, so that you get a noteworthy result that will ensure a longer shelf life and easier preservation.
This is why we never tire of repeating that if you want to drink coffee, you should do it with the right machine, such as one of our lever machines. Thanks to their ability to retain both the aroma of the coffee and its nutrients, they can ensure you a blend that will keep for a long time.
So, what are you waiting for? Take a look at our catalogue and choose the right coffee machine for you! We bet that after you have enjoyed your beverage, there will be nothing left to keep.